Marine Fishes Expert Network: findings and recommendations from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program’s State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report

Pelagic and benthic fish species are important in Arctic marine ecosystems because they transfer energy to predators such as seabirds, marine mammals, as well as people. The CBMP Marine Fishes Expert Network aggregated and reviewed data on the population status and trends of three marine fish Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas. Fishes are affected by environmental conditions such as temperature, sea ice availability and salinity, and are constrained by prey availability and predator pressure, which can be influenced by climate change. The three marine fish FECs discussed here are indicative of different changes that are occurring in the Arctic and demonstrate the varied responses observed among species. The presentation will summarize current level of monitoring across the Arctic, the status and trends of FECs, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Seabird Expert Network (CBird): Findings and recommendations from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program’s State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26771v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kathy Kuletz ◽

Mark Mallory ◽

Grant Gilchrist ◽

Gregory J Robertson ◽

Flemming Merkel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Arctic ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Tourist Attractions ◽

Status And Trends ◽

The Status ◽

Species Population ◽

Declining Populations ◽

Expert Network

Seabirds provide ecosystem services, notably as human food in many Arctic regions, major tourist attractions, as well as being an important link to the Arctic food web and returning nutrients from the oceans to coastal areas. Changes in seabird populations and diversity will affect regional sustainability for Arctic communities and ecosystems. The CBird Expert Network aggregated and reviewed data on the population status and trends of eight seabird Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring efforts for these species. Population trends for seabirds vary within and among regions, making it difficult to assess circumpolar trends. Nonetheless, among key sites, current trends indicate that most of the stable or increasing populations are in the Pacific Arctic and Arctic Archipelago, while most of the declining populations are in the Atlantic Arctic. Most circumpolar nations have at least one source of long-term seabird monitoring datasets, but efforts vary across regions. Long-term monitoring efforts are crucial to examining the effects of environmental drivers to changes in seabird populations. The presentation will summarize current level of monitoring across the Arctic, the status and trends of FECs, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Seabird Expert Network (CBird): Findings and recommendations from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program’s State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26771 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kathy Kuletz ◽

Mark Mallory ◽

Grant Gilchrist ◽

Gregory J Robertson ◽

Flemming Merkel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Arctic ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Tourist Attractions ◽

Status And Trends ◽

The Status ◽

Species Population ◽

Declining Populations ◽

Expert Network

Seabirds provide ecosystem services, notably as human food in many Arctic regions, major tourist attractions, as well as being an important link to the Arctic food web and returning nutrients from the oceans to coastal areas. Changes in seabird populations and diversity will affect regional sustainability for Arctic communities and ecosystems. The CBird Expert Network aggregated and reviewed data on the population status and trends of eight seabird Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring efforts for these species. Population trends for seabirds vary within and among regions, making it difficult to assess circumpolar trends. Nonetheless, among key sites, current trends indicate that most of the stable or increasing populations are in the Pacific Arctic and Arctic Archipelago, while most of the declining populations are in the Atlantic Arctic. Most circumpolar nations have at least one source of long-term seabird monitoring datasets, but efforts vary across regions. Long-term monitoring efforts are crucial to examining the effects of environmental drivers to changes in seabird populations. The presentation will summarize current level of monitoring across the Arctic, the status and trends of FECs, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Circumpolar biodiversity monitoring program’s state of the Arctic marine biodiversity

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26717 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kit M. Kovacs ◽

Rosa Meehan ◽

Stas Belikov ◽

Genevieve Desportes ◽

Steve Ferguson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Mammal ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Mineral Exploration ◽

Population Monitoring ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Cultural Significance ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Status And Trends

Marine mammals are top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems and are key to ecosystem functioning. Many Arctic marine mammal species are important resources and hold special cultural significance in Arctic communities. The CBMP (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme) Marine Mammal Expert Network aggregated and reviewed data on the population status and trends of all 11 ice-associated marine mammal Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring (and research) efforts for these species. Changes taking place in the physical environment in the Arctic due to global warming are affecting marine mammal behaviour, abundance, growth rates, body condition and reproduction, and impacting the resilience of marine mammal populations with concomitant effects on the people who rely on them for subsistence, economic and cultural purposes. Effective marine mammal population monitoring will need improved techniques and application at appropriate geographic scales to measure trends that can be evaluated relative to changes in climate (e.g., sea-ice cover) and human activities (e.g., hunting, shipping, mineral exploration). This presentation will summarize current marine mammal monitoring across the Arctic, the status and trends of FECs, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Benthos Expert Network: Findings and recommendations from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program’s State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR)

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26775v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Virginie Roy ◽

Lis Lindal Jørgensen ◽

Philippe Archambault ◽

Martin Blicher ◽

Nina Denisenko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Mammals ◽

Benthic Communities ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Arctic Seas ◽

Marine Areas ◽

Expert Network

Currently, > 4,000 macro- and megabenthic invertebrate species are known from Arctic seas, representing the majority of marine faunal diversity in this region. This estimate is expected to increase with future studies. Benthic invertebrates are important ecosystem components as food for fishes, marine mammals, seabirds and humans. The Benthos Expert Network of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) aggregated and reviewed information on the population status and trends of macro- and megabenthic invertebrates across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring efforts for these communities. Drivers are affecting benthic communities on a variety of scales, ranging from pan-Arctic (related to climate change, such as warming, ice decline and acidification) to regional or local scales (such as trawling, river/glacier discharge, and invasive species). Long-term benthic monitoring efforts have largely focused on macro- and megabenthic communities of the Chukchi and Barents Seas. Recently, they are increasing in waters off Greenland and Iceland, as well as in the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea. All other Arctic Marine Areas are lacking long-term monitoring. The presentation will summarize current level of knowledge and monitoring across the Arctic, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Benthos Expert Network: Findings and recommendations from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program’s State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR)

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26775 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Virginie Roy ◽

Lis Lindal Jørgensen ◽

Philippe Archambault ◽

Martin Blicher ◽

Nina Denisenko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Mammals ◽

Benthic Communities ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Arctic Seas ◽

Marine Areas ◽

Expert Network

Currently, > 4,000 macro- and megabenthic invertebrate species are known from Arctic seas, representing the majority of marine faunal diversity in this region. This estimate is expected to increase with future studies. Benthic invertebrates are important ecosystem components as food for fishes, marine mammals, seabirds and humans. The Benthos Expert Network of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) aggregated and reviewed information on the population status and trends of macro- and megabenthic invertebrates across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring efforts for these communities. Drivers are affecting benthic communities on a variety of scales, ranging from pan-Arctic (related to climate change, such as warming, ice decline and acidification) to regional or local scales (such as trawling, river/glacier discharge, and invasive species). Long-term benthic monitoring efforts have largely focused on macro- and megabenthic communities of the Chukchi and Barents Seas. Recently, they are increasing in waters off Greenland and Iceland, as well as in the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea. All other Arctic Marine Areas are lacking long-term monitoring. The presentation will summarize current level of knowledge and monitoring across the Arctic, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Circumpolar biodiversity monitoring program’s state of the Arctic marine biodiversity

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26717v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kit M. Kovacs ◽

Rosa Meehan ◽

Stas Belikov ◽

Genevieve Desportes ◽

Steve Ferguson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Mammal ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Mineral Exploration ◽

Population Monitoring ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Cultural Significance ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Status And Trends

Marine mammals are top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems and are key to ecosystem functioning. Many Arctic marine mammal species are important resources and hold special cultural significance in Arctic communities. The CBMP (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme) Marine Mammal Expert Network aggregated and reviewed data on the population status and trends of all 11 ice-associated marine mammal Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring (and research) efforts for these species. Changes taking place in the physical environment in the Arctic due to global warming are affecting marine mammal behaviour, abundance, growth rates, body condition and reproduction, and impacting the resilience of marine mammal populations with concomitant effects on the people who rely on them for subsistence, economic and cultural purposes. Effective marine mammal population monitoring will need improved techniques and application at appropriate geographic scales to measure trends that can be evaluated relative to changes in climate (e.g., sea-ice cover) and human activities (e.g., hunting, shipping, mineral exploration). This presentation will summarize current marine mammal monitoring across the Arctic, the status and trends of FECs, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Sea ice biota: Excerpts from the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report by the Sea Ice Biota Expert Network/CBMP

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26822 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Haakon Hop ◽

Bodil A. Bluhm ◽

Igor A. Melnikov ◽

Michel Poulin ◽

Mikko Vihtakari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Open Water ◽

Arctic Sea Ice ◽

Algal Community ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Cascading Effects ◽

Marine Areas ◽

Monitoring Protocols ◽

Expert Network

Sea ice is an important Arctic habitat that supports a high diversity of species—with over 1276 protist taxa alone. Multi-year sea ice is being replaced by first-year ice and open water, which will cause shifts in ice algal communities with cascading effects on the ice-associated ecosystem. Documentation of ice biota composition, abundance and natural variability is critical for evaluating responses to the decline in Arctic sea ice. The Sea-ice Biota Expert Network, therefore, aggregated and reviewed data on status and trends of ice-associated Bacteria, Archaea, microalgae, meiofauna, and under-ice macrofauna Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as current monitoring. Sea ice biota monitoring has occurred most frequently in the central Arctic, Svalbard area, Barrow (Alaska) and the Canadian Arctic, with recent sites in northern Greenland. Sea ice algal community structure has possibly changed in the central Arctic between the 1980s and 2010s, and ice-amphipod abundance and biomass have declined in the Svalbard area since the 1980s. Consistent monitoring protocols, equipment and methodology should be implemented. The presentation also evaluates dominant drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text

Missing the safety net: evidence for inconsistent and insufficient management of at-risk marine fishes in Canada

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2015-0030 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (10) ◽

pp. 1596-1608 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jamie Marie McDevitt-Irwin ◽

Susanna Drake Fuller ◽

Catharine Grant ◽

Julia Kathleen Baum

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Marine Fish ◽

Safety Net ◽

Marine Conservation ◽

Marine Fishes ◽

Additional Protection ◽

The Status ◽

Species At Risk Act ◽

To Receive ◽

Fisheries Act

Marine conservation is often perceived as being in conflict with fisheries management. In Canada, at-risk marine fishes denied listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) are meant to receive comparable measures under the Fisheries Act. We assess the effectiveness of these Acts by examining (i) how long it takes a marine fish assessed as being at risk to move through the process and receive conservation measures, (ii) whether there are biases against marine fishes in the SARA process additional to the known listing bias, and (iii) when denied listing, to what extent these species are protected by the Fisheries Act. Overall, at-risk marine fishes typically spend 3.25 years under consideration for SARA, during which time they receive no additional protection. Endangered and Threatened marine fishes (i.e., those most at risk) face the greatest bias and receive the least protection; their SARA decisions are typically delayed, with almost 5 years usually passing between their COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) assessment and listing decision; most (70.6%) are then denied listing, after which the Fisheries Act provides few of the SARA-required measures. For SARA-listed marine fishes, recovery strategies are usually late and to date no action plans have been produced. Marine fish conservation is hindered by SARA’s slow pace, incomplete recovery measures, and inadequate implementation of the Fisheries Act. We provide recommendations for improving conservation of at-risk marine fishes in Canada.

Download Full-text

Sea ice biota: Excerpts from the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report by the Sea Ice Biota Expert Network/CBMP

10.7287/peerj.preprints.26822v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Haakon Hop ◽

Bodil A. Bluhm ◽

Igor A. Melnikov ◽

Michel Poulin ◽

Mikko Vihtakari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Open Water ◽

Arctic Sea Ice ◽

Algal Community ◽

The Arctic ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Cascading Effects ◽

Marine Areas ◽

Monitoring Protocols ◽

Expert Network

Sea ice is an important Arctic habitat that supports a high diversity of species—with over 1276 protist taxa alone. Multi-year sea ice is being replaced by first-year ice and open water, which will cause shifts in ice algal communities with cascading effects on the ice-associated ecosystem. Documentation of ice biota composition, abundance and natural variability is critical for evaluating responses to the decline in Arctic sea ice. The Sea-ice Biota Expert Network, therefore, aggregated and reviewed data on status and trends of ice-associated Bacteria, Archaea, microalgae, meiofauna, and under-ice macrofauna Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as current monitoring. Sea ice biota monitoring has occurred most frequently in the central Arctic, Svalbard area, Barrow (Alaska) and the Canadian Arctic, with recent sites in northern Greenland. Sea ice algal community structure has possibly changed in the central Arctic between the 1980s and 2010s, and ice-amphipod abundance and biomass have declined in the Svalbard area since the 1980s. Consistent monitoring protocols, equipment and methodology should be implemented. The presentation also evaluates dominant drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

Download Full-text